CBI Forensic Scientist III (Latent Prints) - Statewide

State of Colorado; Arvada (CO); On-site; USD 7,900 - 9,100; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical & Dental

HSA

FMLA & FAMLI

PERA retirement

Paid holidays

Job summary

The Colorado Bureau of Investigation Forensic Services is seeking a Forensic Scientist III in Colorado. This role serves as a technical expert, responsible for preservation, analysis and interpretation of physical evidence for criminal cases across state agencies.

You will adhere to chain of custody, safety protocols and documentation standards while providing guidance to junior staff. Work is conducted 100% in-person in a structured lab environment, with opportunities to testify as an expert

Qualifications

• Forensic Scientist III qualifies as a technical expert in a discipline/sub-discipline and ensures ISO/IEC 17025 compliance.
• Preservation, analysis and interpretation of physical evidence in criminal cases.
• Ability to provide expert courtroom testimony and mentor junior staff.
• Maintains chain of custody and adheres to laboratory safety policies.

Responsibilities

• Ensures the integrity of evidence by maintaining chain of custody and security at all times.
• Utilizes equipment and instrumentation properly; performs quality checks and maintains safety standards.
• Conducts technical reviews of casework in a timely and thorough manner.
• Leads and mentors Forensic Scientist I/II and advises management when needed.
• Documents findings precisely in Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS).

Job description

Department Information

This posting is open to current and non-current residents of the State of Colorado at the time of submitting your application. However, if you are selected and accept the position, you will be required to establish residence in the State of Colorado.

While the full salary range for this position is listed, this position will be hired within the salary range $94,572-$108,941.16

A eligible list established with this recruitment may be used to fill other similar positions within the Colorado Department of Public Safety in the next 12 months.

Our Mission - Engaged employees working together to safeguard lives and to provide diverse public safety services to local communities.

Our Vision - Creating safer and more resilient communities across Colorado.

Our Core Values – Unity, Honor, Service

The State of Colorado strives to create a Colorado for All by building and maintaining workplaces that value and respect all Coloradans through a commitment to equal opportunity and hiring based on merit and fitness.

The State is resolute in non-discriminatory practices in everything we do, including hiring, employment, and advancement opportunities.

At CDPS we nurture a centric culture driven by our commitment of creating a safer Colorado, an inclusive workplace where everyone can be their own authentic self. We model a culture of collaboration, support and growth to our employees. Our culture has public service focus, and we strive to provide innovative solutions and services to our fellow Coloradans!

Careers With a Purpose

If you are passionate about public safety service, and are eager to dedicate your career to serving Coloradans, this is the organization you want to join!

We are committed to providing public safety services to our fellow Coloradans in their times of greater needs such as: safety on our roads, preparing and mitigating environmental disasters, disaster recovery, combating crime, school safety, and victim recovery.

You’ll have the opportunity to challenge yourself and acquire new capabilities to build a rewarding and fulfilling career while making a difference in our community!

When you join CDPS, you are joining a team of exceptional individuals and together you will be inspired, motivated and supported to become the best you can be.

Classification And Salary

FORENSIC SCIENTIST III

Anticipated Hiring Range: $7,881 - $9,078.43/month; $94,572 - $108,941.16/year

Full Salary Range: $7,881 - $11,035/month; $94,572 - $132,420/year

Unmatched Benefits

We highly value work life balance and offer excellent work-life programs, training and enriching professional development opportunities and a wide range of benefits.

• Medical and dental options are available for permanent employees and their dependents. We also offer short and long-term disability coverage, and life insurance that includes legal resources and discounts.
• State contribution into Health Savings Account when enrolled in HDHP.
• Job protected medical leave under the Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA) and the State of Colorado Family and Medical Leave Insurance Program (FAMLI).
• Paid medical leave benefits provided by the State of Colorado.
• Eligibility for hybrid or other flexible work arrangements based on the nature of the role.
• We offer unmatched retirement benefits including mandatory PERA Defined Benefit Plan or PERA Defined Contribution Plan, plus optional 401K and 457 plans. For information on mandatory employee salary deferral (in lieu of contribution to Social Security), visit Colorado PERA for details.
• CDPS provides generous time off including 11 paid holidays annually and accrued annual and sick leave and four annual wellness days.
• The Employee Assistance Program (C-SEAP) is available in every region of the state. It is our effort to support the well-being of employees and the workplace. EAPs provide short-term counseling, referrals and resources, as well as training and organizational development services.
• Additional benefits offered include tuition reimbursement and reduced college tuition at CSU Global and DeVry University.
• Credit Union of Colorado membership eligibility.

To learn more about State of Colorado benefits, please visit State of Colorado benefits.

Description of Job

About The Work Unit

The Colorado Bureau of Investigation Forensic Services maintains four operational forensic science laboratories throughout the state: Denver, Pueblo, Grand Junction and the Northern Region. Forensic Services is responsible for the scientific analysis of physical evidence collected from crime scenes. The role of our scientists is to evaluate and examine the evidence using the latest state of the art techniques, and objectively testify for the prosecution or defense for the federal, state and local law enforcement agencies that we serve. In order to best serve the citizens of Colorado, we strive to build and maintain partnerships not only with law enforcement agencies but also within the communities we serve.

Work Environment

• 100% in-person, Office, sedentary, Typical work unit core business hours, Monday-Friday, 8:00 am - 4:00 pm.

About The Job

The Forensic Scientist III is the Colorado Bureau of Investigation Forensic Services (CBIFS) technical expert in a specific forensic discipline(s) or sub-discipline(s). This position is responsible for the preservation, analysis and interpretation of physical evidence collected in criminal cases for federal, state and local law enforcement agencies. The Forensic Scientist III must perform all technical and administrative aspects of the work at the highest level of quality, ensuring the requirements of ISO/IEC 17025 are met. Technical aspects of this position include, but are not limited to: proper handling and secure storage of evidence, chain of custody requirements, laboratory safety and all facets of casework. Administrative aspects include, but are not limited to: evidence tracking, entering accurate and complete case documentation into the Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS) or other data information systems, and accurate, factual and timely report writing detailing the findings of the analysis. Additionally, this position may be called to provide expert courtroom testimony, serve in an advisory capacity within their qualified discipline(s)/sub-discipline(s), and train and mentor newer employees. The Forensic Scientist III serves as a liaison with all law enforcement partners of the CBIFS and must demonstrate the highest level of customer service, both internally and externally. This individual must demonstrate competency by successfully passing established proficiency test(s) and through continued skills-based training and professional development. This position is responsible for regularly advising and assisting Forensic Scientist I/II level personnel, providing expert guidance as it relates to all technical, administrative and customer service aspects of the forensic scientist position.

Key Responsibilities

Technical Duties

• Ensures the integrity of evidence by maintaining the chain of custody and security of the evidence at all times.
• Equipment and instrumentation necessary to perform the technical analysis must be utilized properly and efficiently, and all quality checks on this equipment must be performed in a timely, accurate manner. Ensures that all chemicals, reagents, solvents and standards needed to perform the analysis meet or exceed the quality requirements, and ensure that all safety standards and appropriate precautions are taken.
• Technical reviews of casework must be conducted thoroughly, systematically and in a timely manner.
• This individual can be called upon by management to work cases that are complex in nature. Seeks advice from peers and is capable of applying established theory, principles, professional standards and precedents to complete the analysis in complex cases.
• Adheres to the current approved procedures for their discipline/sub-discipline, or must obtain a deviation approval when cases require non-conforming testing. Documents and reports the uncertainty of measurement and sampling plan for the discipline/sub-discipline. Abides by the interpretation/opinion criteria established and approved for the discipline/sub-discipline. All casework must be approached efficiently and judiciously, taking into account all of the details furnished by law enforcement.
• Complies with all technical requirements of ISO/IEC 17025 and ensure all policies and procedures of the CBIFS are adhered to including, but not limited to: the Discipline Operations Manual (DOM), the Quality Manual (QM), the Evidence Policies (EP), the Laboratory Information Management System Manual (LIMS) and the discipline/sub discipline Training Manual.
• Advises, trains, mentors, and assists Forensic Scientist I/II level personnel as it relates to all technical aspects of the position. When uncertain, this individual must seek the advice of management.
• May serve as a lead trainer.

Administrative

• All current and approved policies and procedures detailing evidence tracking must be adhered to. All evidence in the possession of this individual must be accounted for at all times utilizing the Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS).
• All reports pertaining to a particular case must be written precisely, accurately, in a timely manner and within established policies and procedures for that discipline/sub-discipline.
• All deviations from current and approved policies and procedures must be brought to the attention of a member of management immediately.
• In order to maintain competency within a discipline/sub-discipline, the assigned proficiency test(s) must be completed and passed within the designated time frame.
• Assists or participates in regularly scheduled audits including, but not limited to: vault, instrumentation/equipment, section and system audits.
• When errors arise, this individual must participate in a root cause analysis to isolate the problem.
• Provides expert witness courtroom testimony or serve in an advisory capacity within their qualified discipline/sub-discipline in courts throughout Colorado.
• Complies with all administrative requirements of ISO/IEC 17025 and ensure all policies and procedures of the CBIFS are adhered to